Little Big Town Postpone Tour, Jimi Westbrook to Undergo Surgery
The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year has been forced to postpone its summer tour. Little Big Town announced today that all shows through July 30th have been either canceled or postponed so that member Jimi Westbrook can have surgery to remove a polyp on his vocal cord.
The group, made up of Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet, shared the news with fans via a statement on their website.
“With heavy hearts we want to let you guys know that Jimi will have to undergo surgery next week to remove a polyp on his vocal cord. As a result, doctors have ordered him to rest his voice and completely recuperate before we continue touring,” it read.
Little Big Town went on to express regret for missing the shows and assured their fan base that they’d share updates on Westbrook’s condition.
“It breaks our hearts to let you guys down, but Jimi’s health is the most important thing and he is expected to make a full recovery with rest and treatment,” the statement concluded, before thanking fans for their understanding and support.
The band, who scored a validating hit with the poignant ballad “Girl Crush,” performed a headlining set at CMA Music Festival this past weekend in Nashville and joined the Oak Ridge Boys onstage for a rendition of “Elvira.” Little Big Town also filmed segments for ABC’s CMA Music Fest special, which they’ll host on August 4th. The quartet was set to play in Reno, Nevada, last night but canceled the concert after Westbrook lost his voice. Their summer tour featured support from David Nail and Ashley Monroe.
Check with Little Big Town’s website and the venues for further information, including rescheduled dates.